Light upconversion microcapsules
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsBrandon M. Kobilka, Jason T. Wertz, Sarah K. Czaplewski-Campbell, Eric J. Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composition, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed. The composition is a microcapsule that includes a transparent shell encapsulating a mixture comprising light upconversion molecules. The method is a method of forming a microcapsule, which includes obtaining light upconversion molecules, forming an emulsion of the light upconversion molecules and a shell formation solution, and encapsulating the light upconversion molecules in a transparent shell. The article of manufacture comprises the microcapsule.
Claims20
A microcapsule, comprising:
- a transparent shell encapsulating a mixture, wherein:
- the mixture comprises a molecular sensitizer and a molecular annihilator that, in combination, are able to produce visible light in response to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength greater than 800 nm;
- the molecular sensitizer and the molecular annihilator are suspended in a transparent material selected from the group consisting of a non-solvent liquid, an oil, and a gel;
- and
- the microcapsule has a size greater than 5 μm.
An article of manufacture, comprising:
- microcapsules with an average size of at least 5 um, each microcapsule comprising:
- a transparent shell encapsulating a mixture, wherein:
- the mixture comprises a molecular sensitizer and a molecular annihilator that, in combination, are able to produce visible light in response to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength greater than 800 nm;
- and
- the molecular sensitizer and the molecular annihilator are suspended in a transparent material selected from the group consisting of a non- solvent liquid, an oil, and a gel.
A method comprising:
- forming a microcapsule, the forming comprising:
- obtaining a mixture comprising a molecular sensitizer and a molecular annihilator that, in combination, are able to produce visible light in response to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength greater than 800 nm, wherein the molecular sensitizer and the molecular annihilator are suspended in a transparent material selected from the group consisting of a non-solvent liquid, an oil, and a gel;
- and
- encapsulating the mixture in a transparent shell larger than 5 μm, wherein the encapsulating comprises forming an emulsion that includes the mixture and a shell formation solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.